“What if he’s...?”
“Too much for us?” I gave her a feral grin. “He won’t be. He’s clever, I’ll give you that, and persistent, but my team and I will take care of him. Permanently.”
I could feel the blood boil in my veins at the thought.
“You’ve gone all assassin-y on me again,” she said with a sigh.
I shrugged. I had no problems killing someone that came after my family or friends. It was a matter of survival, not preference.
She pursed her lips, but dropped the subject. I leaned in to kiss her, missing the taste of her lips, when the door suddenly slammed open with such force that the handle smashed through the wood paneling on the wall and got stuck.
Mesmer stomped into the room in full gargoyle form with someone trapped inside of his large stone wings. The giant gargoyle stopped, but didn’t release his prisoner. His face was impassive, like he had all the time in the world. I cleared my throat, but before I could speak, a sardonic tenor voice said, “You can release me now. We’re obviously where you wanted me to be.”
Mesmer grunted but didn’t release his passenger. The person sighed. “I won’t hurt them. Just let me out.”
Mesmer’s head tilted down, and he searched the face of whomever he held. When he was certain that the being would keep his word, he released them.
Virion, the high elf prince. He looked a little worse for wear. His long copper hair was snarled, he had dark smudges under his green and gold eyes, and his fine clothes were shredded. Like the elves of old, he wore, what looked like, a long split tunic and close fitting pants. Over his tunic, was a lightweight vest of mythril. He had golden gauntlets on his wrists and forearms that had elven scrolling on them, a pair of golden greaves that covered from just above his knees down to just above his ankles, and twin curved blades that were strapped to his back. The blades were singing softly.
In short, Virion looked like someone you didn’t want to mess with. I wasn’t without claws myself, but I knew if it came to a death match between he and I, that I would not win. It was only my desperation to protect Mia that drove me to such lengths as stealing Virion, the last surviving high elven prince of a line that had been slaughtered.
One copper eyebrow winged upward as Virion took me in.
Mesmer, trying to give us privacy to talk, yanked the door out of the wood paneling, pulling a whole chunk of paneling off, and shut it, standing out in the hall.
“Prince Virion.”
“Master vampire.” His gaze went to Mia. His eyes softened for a moment before they swung back to me and hardened. “Please tell me you didn’t kidnap me to heal one who is already on the mend.”
I, in fact,diddo that. “That among other things.” With a smile on my lips, I said, “Thank you for coming so quickly.”
Mia gasped. “Youkidnapped a prince!” She tried to stand, and then swayed. Before I could help her, Virion was there, holding her steady. A twinge of jealousy burned through me when Mia looked at the elf in awe. I shut the feeling down immediately. I had no time for pettiness. Besides, I wasn’t a petty vampire. It did twinge a bit when the person you loved and were bonded to was in awe of another male, though.
“I could have prevented it, but I was bored,” Virion said.
Mia laughed. Her eyes were crossed in dizziness, and she looked a little green, but she laughed in genuine delight, and then moaned, putting a hand to her forehead. “I’m so sorry. I was shot, and Draven’s been a little worried about me. He’s been fussing over me like a hen with her chicks. But he shouldn’t have resorted tokidnapping!”
I winced at the look she gave me. Yeah, she was upset with me. She had every right to be, really, but I didn’t like the feel of us being out of sync. And I wouldn’t have changed my decision, so it was a moot point. The only thing I felt bad about was the necessity of the action, not the action itself.
Zian was sniffing Virion’s greaves, wrinkling his big nose as he did so at the magic they were slathered in, and snuffling his boots. He started licking them, and the high elf merely gave him a look and shook his head. The tiger pouted, and went back to the fire, sighing greatly. It was tough being an animal around a high elf. They emitted so much magical energy that was in tune with nature that animals basically adopted them on the spot. Even Zian, who adored Mia, wanted Virion’s attention and love. And when he didn’t get it, he pouted.
It was amusing seeing a cat who weighed 250 pounds pout.
Virion seated Mia again and pulled a chair closer to her. “I’m a farmer, you see. Harvest has been long over for the season and my coffers are filled with money from my sales.” He patted her hand, releasing it. I snorted at this. Yes, like he needed the money. “Winter can be long and boring,” Virion continued, ignoring me. “So, when an insistent gargoyle kidnapped me, I went with it. I figured, if nothing else, I would get some diversion when we got to our destination.”
I sat at the other end of the couch, watching Mia charm Virion. I almost laughed. I don’t even think the elf realized she was doing it, and I knew for certain Mia didn’t. It was in her nature to soothe others, being the empath that she was. It came naturally to her. As naturally as breathing did.
“Are your,” Mia cocked her head, listening, “singing blades okay? They feel—is that confusion?” Her brow puckered. “And there is a second aura coming from you. One is calm, the other feels...disgruntled.”
I covered my smile with my hands when Virion looked startled, and took that as my cue to give her time to charm him to our side without me underfoot.
I stood and dipped my head in a slight bow to Virion, then kissed Mia’s forehead. “Call me if you need me.” She nodded, and I turned back to the captive prince. “I’ll let you and Mia get acquainted. I am needed elsewhere.” Virion nodded regally at me, regarding me with eyes that told me I was not what he had expected. I smiled. He wasexactlyas I had expected. I had no worries that he would hurt Mia, and I had every hope that he would help me hunt down the scum that had almost killed her.
Chapter18
Mia
Okay, Draven really needed to not kidnap people, and I hope he knew wewouldtalk about that later. You know, when I could stand without passing out.Thatlater.
